Having eagerly anticipated The Fall Guy after catching its trailers in the cinema, I was ready for something different from the usual franchise films. This movie promised a blend of over-the-top action and comedy, and as someone unfamiliar with the 80s TV show it’s based on, the story was entirely fresh. Beyond the action, I was particularly curious about the music in an action-comedy, hoping for a score that could be both refreshing and innovative. Dominic Lewis’s soundtrack for The Fall Guy absolutely delivered on that front.
The Fall Guy shines a light on the often-underappreciated world of stunt performers, framing them as the unsung heroes of cinema. This movie beautifully weaves a love story into the high-octane action, centered around a stuntman and a film director. When you think of stunt professionals, words like tough, agile, fast, and brave come to mind. Classic rock music, particularly from the 70s and 80s, feels like a natural fit to represent this kind of energy and attitude. True to this, the movie is packed with such iconic tracks. However, an original score was also essential to bridge these songs and underscore the narrative, a task director David Leitch entrusted to Dominic Lewis, following their successful collaboration on Bullet Train.
Lewis could have taken a straightforward approach, creating a score that simply mirrored the classic rock vibe. While he did incorporate orchestral elements with rock instrumentation like drums, bass, and electric guitars, he elevated the music beyond a simple fusion of rock and film score. The film opens with the legendary rock anthem, “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” by KISS. A brilliant orchestral version, performed by Yungblud, was specifically produced for The Fall Guy, available as “I Was Made For Lovin’ You (from The Fall Guy) [Orchestral Version].” Lewis masterfully integrates the musical DNA of this iconic song throughout the entire score. Subtle hints of the main melody or recognizable guitar riffs are woven into numerous tracks, with “Sexy Bacon” and “Ball Biter” serving as prime examples of this clever musical integration. Another standout moment is the nod to the Miami Vice theme in “Miami Grilled Cheese.” This track elicited an audible cheer from me in the cinema – a perk of having the theater entirely to myself – as the on-screen action synced perfectly with this musical cue.
Dominic Lewis The Fall Guy Songs Soundtrack
Beyond the prominent rock influences, several tracks showcase Lewis’s orchestral prowess, allowing those rock elements to recede into the background. “High Noon at the End of the Universe” beautifully exemplifies this, presenting a lush orchestral rendition of the love theme Lewis crafted for the film. Similarly, the track “The Fall Guy,” which closes the score section before the final songs, is predominantly orchestral. This musical choice emphasizes the stuntman’s transformation into the film’s hero, moving beyond the image of the anonymous, tough figure.
My cinema experience with The Fall Guy was thoroughly enjoyable. The lighthearted story, the breathtaking and over-the-top stunts, and, crucially, Dominic Lewis’s score all contributed to a highly entertaining film. Lewis demonstrated a deep understanding of the film’s needs and executed his musical vision with brilliance.
Listen or buy
Tracklist
Highlights are in bold.
- I Was Made For Lovin’ You (4:21)
- Unknown Stuntman (Fall Guy Theme) (2:39)
- Thumbs Up (2:15)
- Metalstorm (0:37)
- Third‐Degree Burn (0:53)
- Sexy Bacon (2:29)
- Oner Of A Lonely Heart (1:43)
- Dead Guy On Ice (1:29)
- Fruit Plate (1:00)
- Bon Garçon (0:52)
- Ball Biter (1:44)
- Post‐It Party (1:14)
- Ducking Autocorrect (2:12)
- Attaque! (2:01)
- Miami Grilled Cheese (5:48)
- I Was Made For Lovin’ You (from The Fall Guy) [Orchestral Version] (4:47)
- Chef’s Kiss (1:13)
- High Noon at the End of the Universe (1:54)
- Pyro Prep (1:01)
- Wire Straits (4:38)
- The Fall Guy (5:25)
- Waiting For Love (3:45)
- Unsung Heroes (2:17)
- Ain’t No Galaxy (3:30)
Total length: 59 minutes
Back Lot Music (2024)
